A thrilling space opera and a fitting ending to an impressive trilogy.
Seventeen-year-old warrior Esmae Rey is tired of fighting.
She and her twin brother, Alexi, have been battling for the crown of the planet Kali, a kingdom that should be Esmae’s birthright. Esmae remains devastated that her mother, Kyra, not only sides with Alexi, but has been bent on killing Esmae to protect Alexi and their younger brother, Bear, from a curse prophesying that only two of Kyra’s three children would live. But when, after escaping another one of her mother’s deadly traps, Esmae is asked to kill Sorsha, a great beast who is endangering the universe, she wonders if her mission for revenge against her treacherous family is worth a potentially world-ending war. But even if she has a change of heart, can Esmae broker peace before she and everyone she loves lose what they truly value? This final volume in a gripping trilogy about the battle to claim Kali is, in some ways, lighter and more humorous than its predecessors, resting as it does on the firm foundations of relationships the author has skillfully built over the course of many pages. While the plot is action packed and the dialogue is witty and, at times, hilarious, the book’s biggest strength lies in the author’s profound knowledge of human nature and the slow, rewarding revelation of each character’s psychological development.
A thrilling space opera and a fitting ending to an impressive trilogy. (list of characters) (Science fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 29, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5107-3380-0
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Review Posted Online: April 29, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic.
An 18-year-old’s encounter with the pale, mysterious, golden-eyed Starmaker transforms her from hamlet girl to magical apprentice.
Aurora Finch discovers she possesses the rare ability to channel sunlight—magic essential to the survival of snow-covered Reverie, her mountain village, “with peaks so high the Sun [cannot] rise above them.” Now she faces a harsh choice: Leave everything behind to train at the Starmaker’s enchanted castle or die as the untapped magic destroys her from within. Griffin excels at worldbuilding; the story is filled with elements and characters that feel both whimsical and real, from Tilly, a living snow angel who’s searching for herself, to Constance, an immortal rabbit. As the antagonism between Aurora and the cold, centuries-old Starmaker melts, their love story, which forms the heart of this tale, crackles with tension. Aurora emerges as a compelling hero—stubborn and brave—who refuses to be diminished by the overwhelming responsibilities thrust upon her. The romantic storyline proves both strong and emotionally involving as the author brings fresh twists to familiar elements, exploring the power of stories and how they shape our understanding of the world. White-presenting Aurora faces a devastating truth that creates urgency and heightens the emotional stakes that drive the story to its conclusion. This satisfying, sparkling fantasy will capture hearts with its well-developed setting and captivating love story.
A delicious winter romance that shimmers with classic fairy-tale magic. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781728256184
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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